Ignition system



J. ARTHUR June 28, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 13, 1944 Juhe 28, 1949. ARTHUR 2,474,510

IGNITION SYSTEM Filed Nov 13, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I @{INVEN'IiOR Patented, June 28, 1949 JamcsL. Arthur; Indianapolis, Ind., assign orto General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware Application November 13, 1944,'Scrial No. 563,285

2' Claims. (Cl. 123-148) This invention relates to the ignition wiring of an air-plane engine.

An object of the invention is to provide for the circulation of fresh air through the wiring manifolds and distributor housings for the purpose of cooling those manifolds subjected to relatively high temperature and for the purpose of preventing the collection of moisture in all the manifolds and housings by causing the air to absorb moisture and carry it away and for the purpose of carrying away from the distributors the nitrous oxide vapors created therein. If the distributors are supercharged, the air escaping from the vents in the distributor caps mingles with the air circulatin through the distributor housings surrounding the caps. If the distributors are not supercharged, some of the air of the circulatory system is caused to flow into the distributors and out through suitable escape vents.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the disclosed embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wiring system embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation in the direction of arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the connection between a fresh air duct and one of the cable manifolds.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a distributor and housing, on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 which showsthe system as applied to a V-type engine, Jr and |l referto the distributor housings from whichextend cable manifold H1 and Ill for carrying wires from distributor caps in the housings to spark plugs |4r' and HI nearest to the inlet valves of the cylinders of the engine. tions I21 and in connect housings lllr and |0l respectively with cable manifolds I31 and |3l respectively for carrying wires from the distributor caps in the housings to spark plugs, such as Mr and NZ, respectively, nearest to the exhaust valves of the cylinders. The distributor in housing ||ll distributes sparking impulses to all of the inlet spark plugs and the distributor in housing I01" distributes sparking impulses to all of the exhaust spark plugs. Therefore a cross manifold |5 connecting housings illr and |||l is provided for carrying the crossover cables.

The exhaust plugs |4r are cooled by jets of fresh air issuing from slits 201' in a manifold 2|r Flexible manifold sec- 221', by ramming pressure as the airplane moves.

Similarly arrow 22! indicates fresh air entering I a manifold 2 ll. Some of this air escapes through slits 201 to cool the "exhaust" plugs I. These "exhaust" plugs are protected to some extent from the heat of exhaust pipes such as 25r by a baflle plate such as 261'. Plugs I are below a similar baflie plate 25! (Fig. 2).

The manifolds I 31' and 31 are located below the from manifold 2| into manifold l3 as indicated by the arrows 32. The tube 3|) provides a water into which fresh air enters, as indicated by arrow trap 33 having a small drain hole 34. The upper end surface 35 of the tube 30 is inclined downwardly in the general direction of air flow in the manifold 2| so that the surface 36 may be more effective in preventing the entrance of excessive moisture into the tube 30. 1

Although the fresh air entering the manifolds I31 and |3l may already carry somemoisture, this air is soon heated as it is forced under ramming pressure through these manifolds. The air, on expanding'becomes capable of absorbing more moisture which it picks up as it passes through the system of manifolds and housings and escapes through several drain passages and vents. Manifolds |3r and |3l having drain holes 401' and 401 at the ends thereof whichwould be lowest when the airplane is on the ground. Manifolds HT and Ill have drain holes 4|r, 421 and 4H, 42! (latter not shown) near the ends thereof.

Referring to Fig. 4 which shows, in longitudinal section, one ofdistributors and its housing, the

housing l0 comprises a main body 50 supported by an extension 5| of the engine cam shaft housing and supporting a shaft 52 driven by the engine and carrying a nonconducting rotor block 53 in which is embedded a metal distributing arm 54 to which sparking impulses are conducted by a spring 55 from a center contact 56 in a distributor cap 51, said contact 56 being connected in any suitable manner with a high tension source such as. the secondary of an ignition transformer coil of a magneto: The arm 54 sweeps past metal posts 58 each connected with a spark plug cable.

The housing I0 and the cap 51 provide a distributorchamber 6|! in which ozone is generated by sparks jumping between the arm 54 and the posts 58. Ozone unites with nitrogen of the air to form nitrous oxide which, on combining with a sufilcient amount of moisture, would form nitric acid. To prevent an appreciable accumulation of nitrous oxide and the consequent formation of nitric acid, air must be allowed to circulate into and out of the chamber I.

If the equipment is not to subjected to relatively high altitude, the chamber 60 is not maintained under relatively high air pressure from a,

and 63 are not used and the tapped hole for the' plug 62 receives a pipe connection with the engine supercharger or other air pressm'e source; plug 63 is replaced by a plug havin'g'a is" drain hole for venting the chamber. ll; and the distributor cap 51 has a vent ll through which air canescap from the chamber 69 carrying with it the nitrous oxide fumes which are swept out of the housing II by the air circulating through it and into the manifold ii and finally out through the drain holes 41 and 42 therein. i

The present invention takes advantage of the air under pressure in the air manifolds 2lr and 2 ll makes it serve several purposes. This air cools particularly the cables in'the manifoldsllr and ill so that their temperature does not become excessive; it sweeps out the moisture which tends to collect in the cable manifolds and distributor housings; and it sweeps out nitrous oxide fumes, either by passing through non-supercharged distributor chambers orby picking up the fumes escaping from the vents in the distributor caps covering the distributing chambers which are super-charged. I

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. 7

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination with an ignition wiring system for a V-type internal combustion engine of a vehicle; a pair of ignition distributors; a housing for enclosing each distributor; a spark plug against each inlet valve of the engine; a spark plug adjacent each exhaust valve of the engine;

a'cross manifold connected to both housings and first and second cable manifolds extending respectively from the housings for enclosing cables leading from one of the distributors to spark plugs adjacent the inlet valves; third and fourth cable manifolds connected respectively with the housings for enclosingcables leading from the other distributor to spark plu s adjacent the exhaust valves; two fresh air manifolds adjacent the exhaust valves for receiving fresh air when the vehicle moves and having passages for directing air upon the spark plugs adjacent the exhaust valves to. cool, the same; tubes each for transferring some of the air from a fresh air manifold respectively to the third and fourth cable manifolds and passagesprovided by the first and.

second cable manifolds to allow air to escape after it, has circulated through the third and fourth manifolds, the housings and the first and second manifolds.

2. In combination with an ignition wiring system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle; 'an ignition distributor; a housing for en- 1 closing the ignition distributor; a spark plug adjacent each inlet valve of the engine; a spark plug adjacent each exhaust valve of the engine; a cable manifold extending from the housing for enclosing. cables leading from the distributor to the spark plugsadjacent the inlet valves;1a second manifold connected with the housing for enclosing cables leading from the distributor to spark plugs adjacent the exhaust valves; a fresh air manifold adjacent the exhaust valves for receiving fresh air when the vehicle moves and having outlets for directing air upon the spark plugs adjacent the exhaust valves to cool the same; means for conducting some of the air from the fresh air manifold to the second mentioned cable manifold; and openings provided by the first mentioned cable manifold toallow air to escap after it has been circulated through the second manifold, the housing and the first manifold.

- JAMES L. ARTHUR.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 'flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

